If it's so easy to coach youth baseball and do it well, why do you see so many poor coaches? In my years as a player and as a coach, I can tell you that my opinion of poor coaching can be simply boiled down to: A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LACK OF PREPARATION! Simply stated... NO Game Plan! The great news is...both can be taught and both can be learned! And please don't say that you don't have
time. You do! Here’s math over a typical 15 week season: 10 practices of 90 minutes = 15 hours 20 games (includes exhibitions, etc.) = 40 hours Misc. phone calls of 2 hours a week = 30 hours Plus meetings, evaluation & draft, rainouts, team pictures, personal instruction, travel time, etc. Lets say that = 65 hours
Plus, who knows what I haven't added in, and money you spend just doing these activities! You've just spent 150 hours... 10 hours per week (plus cash) on a hobby, community service, enjoying baseball, mentoring kids, or whatever your motive is for being a coach.
Get a plan...save your sanity... NOW! It will flat out save you time, not cost you time. It will reflect positively on your kids and your team's play, and as a byproduct, coaches, parents and players will see a better coach who is having a better time!
So... What does it take? 1. Interest in becoming a better coach. 2. A PLAYBOOK. A simple 3-ring binder where you can write out your practice plans on lined paper. If you write in it night before each practice or game, you will be dedicating about 25 minutes each week (based on 2 practices/games). You will begin remembering to do it as soon as practice sessions start because you will be bringing it with you and referring to it at each practice.
Hints for your Playbook
Include all correspondence, notes, and forms from your league or school that you find yourself collecting and passing out to your players. Keep that stuff in your new "playbook." It will easily become a habit and a central spot to refer to regularly.
Use a pencil and simply make it legible. Don't make a big deal out of this, just get it done!
Beginning in practice #2, you should always spend 10-15 minutes reviewing any new concept you might have introduced in practice #1 or previous practice. It is a common fault (not to mention a complete waste of time) to teach your team a concept and assume that players will perform when time comes in a game situation just because you taught it once. And it just kills player confidence after play because he knew he'd been taught. But obviously, not well enough. Your error, coach! So ... What's in binder?
